BOYS HOCKEY: 'We will be OK': Falmouth moves forward

The Falmouth boys' hockey team defeated Dennis-Yarmouth 5-0 last week. It was their second straight win after an 0-3 start, and brought them to 1-0 in the league.

Any other season, this would be a great story, and a great place to start reporting on the state of the program.

This, however, is a season like no other.

Falmouth, both the town and the team, try to find normalcy after the tragic deaths of senior hockey stars James Lavin and Owen Higgins. In times of tragedy, we, tend to turn to sports for closure and a sense of moving on. Even when that tragedy occurs within the sports world itself, we look that way to move forward.

"I was really proud of the kids for the way they battled through Wednesday night," said head coach Paul Moore. "It was a tough night to get through. They want to be at the rink. It seems to be where they are the happiest. This is going to be a long journey."

The support has been nothing short of amazing. The hockey community is a tight-knit group, and teams from across the country, and across all levels of play, have done their part to honor "Lav and Higgy." The Boston Bruins even had custom Lavin and Higgins jerseys hang on the back of their bench for a game shortly after, and Sunday afternoon, Boston College had them on during their Frozen Fenway game.

"The support has been unbelievable," said Moore. "It gives you a sense of pride for our town and our program. The outreach has come from all over the country."

Moore addressed the crowd before the game. His words were short, but important. "Falmouth: know that we are going to be OK," he said. "Our team is going to be OK, and this community is going to be OK because of nights like tonight. I hope tonight, you can find some peace, and some hope. And, just maybe, our broken hearts will get filled a little bit."

Captain Matthew Schreiner has been a rock for this program. He was starting to have a memorable season before the tragedy with three goals and two assists, but nearly single handedly put the team on his back Wednesday night with a three-goal performance.

"My job is to be strong for my teammates," said Schreiner. "I don't like to show my emotions because I think as a captain, showing my emotions can make my team feel worse. The majority of this team loved these kids and have been extremely depressed, but my job is to make sure they play to the best of their ability, and it's what I tried to do."

Someone had to take the lead on the ice, and it might as well be your captain. Schreiner's performance was nothing short of inspiring, but he hasn't done it alone.

"If it wasn't for the coaching staff, in particular coach Moore, we wouldn't be able to win that game," said Schreiner. "If it wasn't for them, the team would not have played how we did."

The honor of bringing the #10 and #19 jerseys onto the ice fell to seniors Jake Hartlzer and Brandon Woodward. According to Moore, they were best friends with Lav and Higgy, and will likely bring their jerseys onto the bench every game. They have even been given the honor of moving over to their stalls in the dressing room.

Eventually, the added attention will fall away, and reality will set in. This is a new normal, and the healing has just begun, but this is a hockey team trying to get back to the post-season, and the Dennis-Yarmouth win was a great start. The squad hadn't played a live game since December 21, and needed the win emotionally, and for the record books.

"We need to take it one game at a time," said Moore. "We play a very tough schedule, and just need to focus on the little things like getting our forecheck established early."

Schreiner leads all scoring with eight points while Jake Miller, Patrick Coyne and William Bohnenberger are all tied for second with three. Robbie Curtis, Tyler MacKenzie are both tied with two points. Hartlzer, Nick Kinsella, Jackson Schreiner, Christopher Parkinson, Aidan Sylvia, Nicholas Champani, and Sam Olson each have one.

In net, senior Landon Kogut, junior Jack Doyle and sophomore Kevin Duarte have all seen time this season, and all three played on Wednesday.

One more Clipper has found the score sheet. Owen Higgins had two assists in Falmouth's 5-1 win vs. Brockton on December 21. It was the last game he played.

The names Owen Higgins and James Lavin will not be forgotten in Falmouth. This season will soon come to an end, the senior class will later graduate, and class after class after class of seniors will come and go. Normalcy, whatever that is, will slowly return to the rink. The games will seem to mean everything again one day. Every play, every coaching decision, and every referee's decision, will be analyzed, and criticized, once again.

However, today is not that day. Today, Falmouth remembers her two sons taken far too soon. We are left to soldier on, and get back to work.

They would have wanted it that way.

Higgy and Lav: the rest of this season is for you. You would be proud of the way your friends and teammates fought on in your memory.